domeniconi



A. S. DOMENICONI.

CIGARETTE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 191B.

Patented July 22,- 1919.

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CIGARETTE CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1918.

1 ,3 1 0,652, Patented July 22, 1919.

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:BLBEBT S. DOMENICQNI, OF SAN ANSELMO, CALIFORNIA.

CIGARETTE-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 29, 1918. Serial No. 231,467.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ALBERT S, DOMENI- com, a citizen ofthe United States, resid- I rette-Cases; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

. This invention relates to cigarette cases, and it rel-ates more particularly to a combined cigarette and igniter case and lighter.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a very convenient and effective means for lighting a cigarette while shielding it from the wind;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which requires but one hand to operate the same;

Another object is to provide a cigarette lighter of this character which applies a flame of considerable size to the cigarette to be lighted;

Another object is to provide for simultaneously moving a cigarette from an inaccessible position to an accessible position and lighting the same;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is entirely automatic and instantaneous in its operation after having been set or prepared for action;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which consists of few and simple parts, so that it may be manufactured at the minimum cost, and is not likely to get out of repair;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is strong, durable, thoroughly practical and reliable.

Other objects and advantages may become apparent to persons who read the following details of description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation illustrating my improved cigarette case and lighter in its closed condition;

Fig. 1 is a view showing the device held in the hand and about to be opened;

Fig. 2 is a view, in elevation, illustrating the cigarette case open and the ignitermagazine closed;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a fragment of the case, the same being open and the ignlter-magazine also being open;

F1g. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the device in its prepared or set position and ready to be sprung or snapped for shifting a cigarette outward and lighting the same;

F1g. is a detail view showing the manipulat ve element, on the exterior of the caslng, 1n the set position corresponding to the set positionshown in Fig. 4;

F 1g. 6 1s a vlew similar to Fig. 4, except that the parts are in the position automatically assumed after the device has been snapped or sprung;

Big. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but sition assumed after being snapped;

Patented July 22, rare. 1

Fig. 8 is a sectional View along the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Flg. 9 is a sectional view along the line 99 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a sectional 10 10 of Fig. 4; t

Fig. 11 is a sectional view along the line 1l 11 of Fig. 4; I

Fig. l2 is a perspective view of the member which operates to carry the cigarette and to IFS-3V8 the igniters one at a time into the posi 1on rep-aratory to bein i ited.

Referring to these drawini s ii i detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views, the case or receptacle comprises two complementary members 13 and 14 which are united by means of hinges 15; and a pintle 16 forms an element of the hinges 15. The member 13 is provided with partitions 17 and 18 which combine with the peripheral flange 19 to form a compartment 20 for holding a plurality of cigarettes; and. a. compartment 21 for holding a plurality of igniters, the latter being indicated by the numeral 22. The partition 17 constitutes a cigarette-end guide along which the cigarettes 23 are moved laterally by means of a spring 24, a suitable presser element 25 being secured 011 said spring adapted to bear against the middle portion of the adjacent cigarette. The partition 18 is apertured or recessed at 26, and a wing 27 extends outward from the partition 18 and guards the aperture 26 to exclude the igniters 22 therefrom. This wing 27 (:01

view along the line operates with a similar wing orguide 28 for forming a relatively narrow passage which receives the igniters in single file and then allows them to be moved one at a time into a predetermined preparatory or a pre-igniting position by means of a singling element 29. The said preparatory position is defined by a depression or pocket 30 which is located under an ignition element 31, the latter being in the present instance a roughened or abrasive surface against which the igniters 22 are moved by means hereinafter described. In the present disclosure, there are two of the abrasive elements 31, but one'only may be sufiicient. One of the elements 31 is united with the casing member 13, and the other is united with a cover 32 which is pivoted on the pintle 16 at points indicated at 33, and a spring 34 is coiled about the pintle 16 and normally presses the cover 32 into the closed position illustrated in Fig. 2. This cover prevents the ign iters 22 from being spilled when the cigarette case is opened for refilling with cigarettes. Either of the abrasive elements 31 taken with any one of the igniters 22 con stitutes an ignition means, for ignition will be efi'ected regardless of the means whereby the igniters are rnbbed against the abrasive surface.

The partition 18 constitutes a traclg or guide along which the clgarette carriage illustrated in Fig. 12 moves so as to bring into alinement with the partition 17 an apertured element 35 which constitutes a cigarette-end seat which receives the cigarette one at a. time from the partltion or guide 17 and shifts them longitudinally one at a time from an inaccessible to an accessible position,tl 1at is, from a position at which they cannot be grasped or removed from the casing, to a position at which they may be grasped and removed, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6.

The cigarette carriage is notched at 36 for the reception of an actuator or spring 37 which is secured to the partition 17 and has its free end in alinement with the cigarette carriage or shifter. The free end portion of the spring 37 has free play in the slot 36 throughout the length of the latter, but as the motion of the said free endis greater than the length of the notch 36, this spring efi'ects movement of the cigarette carriage from the position illustrated in Fig. 6 to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 and vice versa.

In order to store energy in the spring 37, a presser member 38 is provided with a finger 39 which extends over the free end portion of the spring 37 when the case is closed, and the member 38 is guided through a bearing 40 on the casing member 14. The casing member 14 is provided with a bayonet slot 41 through which the upper end of the member or rod 38 extends and connects with a manipulative relement or button 42. This button 42 has a spring'element 43 secured thereto, the latter passing inward through the slot 41 and being provided with a shoulder 43- which engages with a shoulder 41 in the bayonet slot, so as to hold the member 38 in its lowermost position as illustrated in Figs. 4, 8 and 11. The spring element 43 passes through a bearing 44 and has frictional engagement therewith and with the inner surface of the casing member 14. The spring member is curved so as to cooperate with the bearing 44 for yieldingly holding the shoulder 43 in engagement with the shoulder 41 when the manipulative element 42 may be moved along the slot 41 so as to cause the element 39 to lower the free end of the spring 37 into the position shown in F ig. 4, and this movement of the spring 37 simultaneously brings the seat 35 into alinement with the partition 17 and causes the element 29 to press the element 28 into the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby enlarging the opening between the element 28 and the partition 18 so that the lowermost one of the igniters is allowed to pass downward into the pocket 30. In thus moving the singling element 29 downward, it spaces the lowermost one of the igniters from the others and detains the remaining igniters until the cigarette carriage is raised.

When the manipulative element 42 is moved laterally so as to disengage the shoulder 43 from the shoulder .41', the stored energy of the spring 37 presses the finger 39 upward into the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7. The spring 37, being thus released, moves the cigarette carriage upward so as to move the cigarette into the accessible position shown in Fig. 6, and at the same time, the igniter which has been moved into the pre-igniting position is snapped upward, by the spring 37, against the igniting element 31 and thereby ignited in a position from which the flame passes through the aperture of the seat 35 and lights the cigarette.

1 preferably provide a small opening 42 which is normally covered by the operating button or element 42 but which is uncovered when the latter is moved upwardly with this opening so positioned that in event a pellet fails to ignite, it can be readily removed from the casing through such opening, and the latter also permits the outlet of smoke orgases as well as any residue remaining after the combustion of the pellet.

Any appropriate fastening means may be employed for holding the case closed, such means being indicated at 4546.

Although I have described this embodi ment of my invention very specifically, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to these exact details, and that I am entitled to make minor changes within the scope of the inventive idea disclosed in the recelve and support them one at a time in longitudinal alinernent with said opening, ignition means, and a device. operable to cause said cigarette-end seat to project the cigarettes individually through said opening, said device being cooperative with said ignition means to light the projected cigarette.

2. A combined cigarette and igniter case and lighter comprisinga container adapted to contain cigarettes and combustible igniters, said case having an opening therein, and means supported by the container and being operable to hold the cigarettes successively opposite said opening and project them longitudinally one by one through said opening and to ignite the ignite-rs one by one at one end of the projected cigarette and thereby light the latter.

3. A combined cigarette and igniter case and lighter comprising a container having an opening therein and being adapted to contain cigarettes and combustible igniters, a guide in the container for guiding the cigarettes respectively into longitudinal alinement with said opening, a cigarette-end seat movable toward and from said opening and into and out of allnement with said guide, means for moving the cigarettes along said guide to a position wherein said cigaretteend' seat receives them one by one as they are successively removed from the latter, a device operable to cause the movement of said cigarette-end seat toward said opening and thus to project the contiguous cigarettes longitudinally through said opening, and means cooperative with the said device for effecting ignition of said igniters, one by one at said end seat and thereby lighting said contiguous cigarette.

i. A combined cigarette and igniter case and lighter comprising a container having an opening therein and being adapted to contain cigarettes and combustible igniters, a cigarette-end guide in the container, a cigarette-end seat movable from and toward said opening and into and out of alinement with said cigarette-end guide, means for moving the cigarettes laterally along saidend guide and causing said seat to receive them one-by-one, an element in a position to guide said cigarette-end-seat and to separate said combustible igniters from the cigarettes,

means to move said seat in one direction and to shift the igniters one at a time into apredetermined preparatory position, an abrasive element, and a device operable to cause said end seat to project the contiguous cigarette longitudinally through said opening and for causing the previously shifted 'igniter to be ignited by-said abrasive element in a position to light the projected cigarette.

5. A combined cigarette and igniter case and lighter comprising a compartment having an opening therein and being adapted to hold a plurality of cigarettes, a magazine adapted to holda plurality of combustible igniters, a shifter adapted to engage with the cigarettes one at a time and being operable to project the engaged cigarette through said opening, means cooperative with said hifter to move the igniters one at a time into a predetermined position, means for effecting ignition of said igniters, and a device operable to move the igniter from said predetermined position into a position where it may be ignited by the second said means and where such ignition of the igniter lights the shifted cigarette.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT S. DOMENICONI.

Witnesses:

W. E. SHANNON, E. E. LAVIOSA. 

